The Wynwood Yard is an Excellent Detour

I set aside a full day to spend at Wynwood Walls. Little did I know that I would end up loitering The Wynwood Yard for more than half the day. What is the Yard you ask?

Wynwood Yard is outdoor bliss for food, culture and drink enthusiasts like myself. There is an eatery, bar, food trucks, garden, and open space to sit and dream. Every single person I came into contact with was friendly and went out of their way to make sure I was satisfied.

Yoga anyone?

Garden area

Hammock heaven

First order of business on the Yard train was to satiate my appetite with a happy bowl at Della Test Kitchen. My mind and body were content after devouring the Forbidden Bowl.
http://www.dellabowls.com/

Tempeh, veggies, black coconut rice, almonds & raw roots

You will indeed be happy!

After a brief intermission at Wynwood Walls, I returned to stalk this amazing space. My taste buds were yearning for some local beer, so I bellied up to the bar to wet my whistle. I'm a stickler about trying local beers when I travel, and this Miami Weiss by MIA Beer Co. was so good I had to have a double.

Thanks, I'll have another

After imbibing, the stomach was beckoning to be fed again. This time, I chose to dine at the Lone Wolf Food Truck and was excited for the vegan options on the menu.
http://www.lonewolfetruck.com/

Sweet Plantain Taco with a side of Black Beans

The Wynwood Yard offers numerous events, so I highly recommend checking their calendar frequently whether you are a local or visitor. I have already started fantasizing about my next visit.

http://www.thewynwoodyard.com/

This airstream has my name on it.

V STREET - ONE OF THE REASONS I TRAVELED TO PHILLY

For the first time in my life, one of the reasons I booked a trip was for a restaurant. No kidding. I heard through the grapevine that a new vegan eatery featuring street food opened in Philly, so I started stalking their Facebook page.

I couldn't stop salivating over the food photos and descriptions, coming to the conclusion that I needed to dine at V Street, sooner rather than later. I booked a flight and had dinner the day of my arrival. The place was packed; however, two stools at the sizable, lovely front window were waiting for us.

My companion and I began with a couple of bevvies. I wanted to try a local beer and chose "Fear of the Brett Planet" (highly recommend). My friend decided on an interesting and refreshing cocktail, "Sevan Springs Eternal." We selected four menu items to share, which were all phenomenal and left us well satiated.
 

Peruvian Fries - aji amarillo, cilantro, olive, peanut

Korean Fried Tempeh Tacos - gochujang, radish kimchee, corn tortillas

Za'Atar Grilled Corn - zhoug, grilled tomato

Cauliflower Shawarma - flatbread, cucumbers, hummus, harissa

A big shout out to our impeccable and delightful server, Erin, who spent time with us despite being in demand. The timing for each plate was perfect. Honestly, the food might be the best I have ever had in my life. I'm not one to choose a favorite anything; however, V Street has me changing my tune.

You don't need to be vegetarian or vegan to thoroughly enjoy the fare. The dishes are highly creative and absolute flavor explosions. Dining at V Street was worthy in itself of my journey. Whether you are a local or just traveling through, you need to make a date with this street food bar.
http://vstreetfood.com/
 

Get in the "spirit" at the Old Sugar Distillery

Love the brick and black hardware together

I had a great visit at the nifty Old Sugar Distillery and learned a lot from the owner, Nathan Greenawalt.  This guy had a fascinating story to tell.

Great space for some camaraderie

Nathan started dabbling in home brewing and thought it was something he might pursue after college.  Upon learning there were already several breweries based in Madison, he had a change of heart and decided to go with liquor.

The piano and wall art add the perfect touch

He leased out a commercial space, got properly licensed, and began production.  When I asked him what his experience was, he said "experimentation."  Impressive, right?

I think this is where the magic happens

Everything the distillery sells is produced on-site, and in fact, he is only licensed to sell what they produce.  That leads to some creativity when concocting a drink menu.

Nice, comfy bar with room to stretch

Nathan said he prefers to think of his establishment as a distillery rather than a bar, which is why they are open just three days a week.  They do host private events after hours though.

Now on to the really important stuff - the booze:

1. Honey Liqueur -  This is the distillery's first product and source behind the venue's name.  It's made using beet sugar and is unexpectedly dry to the palate.
2. Rum - Their version of rum has an oaky taste rather than sweet.  It's made from cane sugar and gets its caramel color from charred oak barrels.
3. Whiskey - Made from 100% Wisconsin sorghum, which gives it a mild flavor.  It's purchased directly from a Wisconsin farmer, who delivers it in his pick-up truck.  How awesome is that?
4. Brandy - 20,000 lbs of grapes are hand-picked locally to create their brandy.  Would you believe all these grapes only make 100 cases?  The brandy is aged in two separate barrels, leaving it with a hint of vanilla flavor.

 

Spacious outdoor patio area

I can't wait for my next visit, which will be during open hours so that I can taste each of these fine spirits.  The Old Sugar Distillery offers free tours and a taste, so check out all the details on their website.

Growing herbs for some specialty cocktails - what can't this guy do?

 http://www.madisondistillery.com